A former Israeli hostage whose wife and children were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, has said he is trying to be positive after his release earlier this year.
In a rare interview, Eli Sharabi, who became one of the most high-profile of those taken when gunmen stormed into Israel two years ago, was reflecting on discovering, after his release, that his family had been killed.
He expressed concern that the latest peace plan to end fighting between Israel and Hamas could fall through and said the lives of the remaining 20 living hostages were being put at risk by the continued Israel-Gaza war.
Mr. Sharabi emphasized the need to keep hope alive for a resolution to end violence by arguing, War is wrong and awful for both sides. He has been actively campaigning for hostages and has even met President Trump to push for their release.
After enduring 491 days in captivity, Mr. Sharabi learned on the day of his release in February 2025 that his wife Lianne, and daughters Noiya and Yahel, were gone—a reality that devastated him upon his return to Israel.
As the second anniversary of the attacks approaches, Sharabi stands resilient, advocating for peace, while grappling with profound grief. He shared, It was very tough but I really, really love life… I'm trying to be positive. I'm working on that. His tale of survival shines a light on the human capacity for hope amidst the darkest trials.
